Zechariah 12:8

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. IN THAT DAY SHALL THE LORD DEFEND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM. Jerusalem, however, also shall be specially strengthened against the foe. AND HE THAT IS FEEBLE AMONG THEM AT THAT DAY SHALL BE AS DAVID - to the Jew the highest type of strength and glory on earth (, "a man of war;" ; such shall the weakest citizen of Jerusalem become; ). AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID SHALL BE AS GOD, AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD BEFORE THEM - the Divine Angel that went "before them" through t...

He goes on with the same subject; and he says that God would be like a shield to protect the Jews. For though the verb יגן, _igen_, is used here, yet as it is derived from מגן, _megen_, which means a shield, that metaphor is to be understood here, — even that the Jews, though without power and without warlike instruments, would yet be safe under the protection of God, for he being their shield would be sufficient. And God is here indirectly opposed to all kinds of fortresses which men too anxiously seek, and on which they vainly depend. The Prophet then no doubt claims here for God a power, which in opposition to the whole world, and when no other help appears, would be found sufficient to subdue all enemies and to save his people. _Jehovah _then _shall be_, he says, _a shield _(158) But there seems to be here something inconsistent; for he had said

1-8 Here is a Divine prediction, which will be a heavy burden to all the enemies of the church. But it is for Israel; for their comfort and benefit. It is promised that God will make foolish the counsels, and weaken the courage of the enemies of the church. The exact meaning is not clear; but God often begins by calling the poor and despised; and in that day even the feeblest will resemble David, and be as eminent in courage and every thing good. Desirable indeed is it that the examples and labours of Christians should render them as fire among wood, as a torch in a sheaf, to kindle the flame of Divine love, to spread religion on the right hand and on the left....

Verse Zechariah 12:8. _HE THAT IS FEEBLE AMONG THEM - SHALL BE AS DAVID_] Here is a marked _difference_ between _Judaism_ and _Christianity_. So clear, full, and efficient shall be the salvation of believers under the _Gospel_, that the _feeblest_ among them shall be as strong, as full of courage, and as successful as David when he went against Goliath. The least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John the Baptist. _AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID - AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD_] The _family_, the _Church_ of the _true David_, the _Lord Jesus_, shall be as the _angel_ of the Lord; shall _stand in the Divine presence_ like _Gabriel_; for Christ hath said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." So "we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed from g

IN THAT DAY THE LORD SHALL DEFEND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM; AND HE THAT IS FEEBLE, RATHER, HE THEFT STUMBLETH AMONG THEM, SHALL BE AS DAVID - The result of the care and the defense of God is here wholly spiritual, “the strengthening of such as do stand, and the raising up of such as fall.” It is not simply one feeble, but one “stumbling” and ready to fall, who becomes as David, the great instance of one who fell, yet was raised. Daniel says of a like trial-time, “And some of those of understanding shall stumble, to try them and to purge and to make them white, to the time of the end” Daniel 11:35. Ribera: “Such care will God have of protecting the sons of the Church, when it shall be infested with persecutions, that he who shall have fallen through human infirmity, either deceived by heretics or overcome by fear of tortures, shall arise the more fervent and

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-14:21 B. THE SECOND BURDEN. ZECHARIAH 12:1 § 1. The prophet proceeds to announce Israel's conflict with heathen powers. _Hostile nations gather together against Jerusalem, but shall themselves be overthrown; for the people and their leaders, trusting in the Lord, overcome all opposition._ ZECHARIAH 12:1 THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR (_concerning_) ISRAEL. This is the title of the second oracle, corresponding to that at the head of Zechariah 9:1. Though the literal Israel has been rejected, a

IN THAT DAY SHALL THE LORD DEFEND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM,.... As with a shield against their enemies; and such is the Lord to all his people; he is their shield to protect them; he keeps and guards them by his power; he encompasses them about with his favour, as with a shield; and gives unto them the shield of salvation; all which will eminently appear to be the case of the Jews at this time: AND HE THAT IS FEEBLE AMONG THEM AT THAT DAY SHALL BE AS DAVID; they that have the most fearful hearts, and feeble minds, shall be as courageous, as valiant, and as victorious as David; and they that are the weakest, in a spiritual sense, in the grace and in the doctrine of faith, and in that part of it, respecting the use of things indifferent, who are ready to be "offended, stumble, and fall" d; for the spiritual reign, which will at this time take place, will not be a state of perfection;...

12:1. _The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heaven, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him._ Note how this chapter begins: «The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel,» not against Israel. The gospel is always, to the true preacher of it, the burden of the Lord, but, to those who receive it, it is a burden of blessing, a load of mercy. To those who reject it, it will become a burdensome stone, crushing them to their eternal ruin. God grant, in his infinite mercy, that none of us may belong to the last class! Zechariah 12:2. _Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem._ This is a promise of God's abounding mercy to his chosen people Is

DAVID Kingdom in Old Testament, Summary: I. Dominion over the earth before the call of Abraham (1) Dominion over creation was given to the first man and woman (Genesis 1:26); (Genesis 1:28). Through the fall this dominion was lost, Satan becoming "prince of this world"; (Matthew 4:8); (John 14:30). (2) After the flood, the principle of human government was established under the covenant with Noah (_ See Scofield) - (Genesis 9:1). _ Biblically this is still the charter of all Gentile government. II

II. THE SECOND BURDEN OF ZECHARIAH (12-14) CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Jerusalem's conflict and victory (Zechariah 12:1) _ 2. The vision of the pierced One and its results (Zechariah 12:10) Zechariah 12:1. The second burden begins with this chapter. It is wholly unfulfilled with the exception of the prophecy at the end of chapter 13 concerning the Shepherd who was smitten. The great future events recorded in these closing Chapter s of Zechariah are the following: The victory of Jerusalem, the overthrow of the hostile nations from the west (the nations which constitute the revived Roman Empire), the outpouring of the Spirit upon the remnant, the appearing and the vision of the Pierced O